50029 at junction 14 of the M1 moving to Peak Rail in October 2002The first task faced by the group was to arrange the transport of both 50029 Renown and 50030 Repulse from Blaenavon to Rowsley. This was not a simple or cheap undertaking, involving moving two large diesel locomotives from a base up a mountain in South Wales, to a base in the middle of the Peak District. Also a condition of the purchase of the locomotives was that they were removed from site within approximately a month of purchase, although fortunately this was relaxed by the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, which we were very grateful for. Even so the move was still organised in a fairly short time frame and hit our fledgling bank account hard! Renown is seen here pausing on the slip road of Junction 14 of the M1 awaiting a police escort. She waited here for a few hours as the police were over-stretched that day, with a multiple accident further north on the M1, a major fire in Nottingham, and also a concert on in one of Nottingham's Parks to contend with.

50029 at junction 14 of the M1 moving to Peak Rail in October 2002

The first task faced by the group was to arrange the transport of both 50029 Renown and 50030 Repulse from Blaenavon to Rowsley. This was not a simple or cheap undertaking, involving moving two large diesel locomotives from a base up a mountain in South Wales, to a base in the middle of the Peak District. Also a condition of the purchase of the locomotives was that they were removed from site within approximately a month of purchase, although fortunately this was relaxed by the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, which we were very grateful for. Even so the move was still organised in a fairly short time frame and hit our fledgling bank account hard! Renown is seen here pausing on the slip road of Junction 14 of the M1 awaiting a police escort. She waited here for a few hours as the police were over-stretched that day, with a multiple accident further north on the M1, a major fire in Nottingham, and also a concert on in one of Nottingham's Parks to contend with.

50030 new at Peak Rail October 200250030 is seen very soon after arrival at Peak Rail on 5th October 2002. Photo: Steve Townend. The external condition of both locomotives after ten years' storage was frankly terrible and we agreed with Peak Rail that sorting this out and presenting a better external image would be our first priority.

50030 new at Peak Rail October 2002

50030 is seen very soon after arrival at Peak Rail on 5th October 2002. Photo: Steve Townend. The external condition of both locomotives after ten years' storage was frankly terrible and we agreed with Peak Rail that sorting this out and presenting a better external image would be our first priority.